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CNN
a day ago
- CNN
The 4 best noise-canceling earbuds, according to years of editor testing
The best noise-canceling earbuds we tested Best noise-canceling earbuds overall: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds Best noise-canceling earbuds for Apple users: Apple AirPods Pro 2 Best budget noise-canceling earbuds: EarFun Air Pro 4 Best noise-canceling earbuds for working out: Beats Fit Pro Thanks to the best noise canceling earbuds, you no longer have to wear a bulky set of cans to quiet down the chaos around you. The latest wireless earbuds from top brands like Bose, Apple and Sony boast some incredibly strong levels of ANC, to the point where you can confidently walk through a crowded city street with them on and not end up with a complete headache. Of course, not all noise cancelling earbuds are created equally, which is where we come in. We've spent years testing the most popular ANC buds on the market, braving packed subway trains, snoring housemates and airplanes filled with crying babies to see which ones can actually drown out the noise and bring you some relaxation and focus. After near-endless hours of listening, here are our four favorites — all of which make great alternatives to over-ear noise-canceling headphones. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Earbuds The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer the best and most customizable noise cancelation of any buds we've tested, complete with Immersive Audio for 360-degree our review Apple AirPods Pro 2 With USB-C The AirPods Pro 2 offer superb ANC and a smart Adaptive Audio mode that can adjust to your surroundings, all while delivering great audio quality and seamless connectivity with your iPhone, iPad and Mac. Read our review EarFun Air Pro 4 The EarFun Air Pro 4's excellent noise cancellation belies its budget price, as do its great sound quality and plethora of useful features. Use our exclusive code EPRO4CNN to save extra at our review Beats Fit Pro The Beats Fit Pro get you AirPods Pro-quality noise cancellation within an extra-snug design that's tailor-made for working out. Bose has long held the top spot in our best noise cancelling earbuds category, and now that the QuietComfort Ultra are here, we don't see that changing anytime soon. The company's class-leading ANC isn't just blissfully suppressive — it's also more adaptive and customizable than almost all of the competition. The buds' handy ActiveSense feature can automatically adjust ANC levels based on your surroundings, while CustomTune analyses your ears to deliver the most optimal noise cancellation possible. You can also toggle between up to 10 sound profiles via the Bose app, and assign a custom ANC level (1 to 10) to each one. Bose knows noise cancellation isn't one size fits all, and we love the array of options on here. Once we got our settings right, we enjoyed a delightful amount of quiet whether we were on noisy flights, crowded trains, busy parks or chatty rooftop bars. Heck, even a crying baby couldn't break our tester's focus. And once it was time to switch to Aware mode to return to the real world, we could easily carry on conversations without taking the buds out. The QuietComfort Ultra's top-of-the-pack ANC helps accentuate its big new feature: Immersive Audio. Similar to Apple's Spatial Audio, this feature allowed us to enjoy our favorite songs in immersive 360 degrees — something that especially stood out when listening to live recordings. And unlike some other spatial audio options, Immersive Audio can convert just about any stereo content into three-dimensional sound. The fact that this superb ANC and audio is packed into a luxurious-looking (and water-resistant!) design complete with Google Fast Pair support for Android users and a healthy amount of customization options only rounds out the package more. The Ultra's battery life (6 hours with ANC on, 4 hours with it off) won't blow you away, but it's still better than the AirPods Pro 2's ANC runtime of about 5 hours. The earbuds don't support wireless charging out of the box; you'll need to get a separate $49 wireless charging cover, which we don't love. But if you're willing to invest in the best and most versatile active noise cancellation you can get from a pair of earbuds, Bose's are the ones to get. If you're one of the few folks that use an iPhone and aren't rocking a pair of AirPods Pro, the latest model's excellent ANC is one of many reasons to jump on the bandwagon. As someone who used the original AirPods Pro extensively, the increase in noise cancellation quality was immediately evident — annoying construction sounds that once broke through were now reduced to a mercifully manageable hum. Apple claims that these buds have up to twice as much ANC power as the original model, and I'd say they're not very far off. But while the AirPods Pro 2's noise cancellation impressed me off the bat, it's the way they've evolved over time that have kept them in my daily rotation. A recent software update introduced Adaptive Audio mode, which delivers a blend of ANC and Transparency based on your surroundings. It's been my go-to on dog walks, where I want to hear nearby cars and pedestrians but don't want my ears blown out by the sound of a high-rise being built. There's also Conversation Awareness, which automatically lowers your playback volume once your AirPods Pro detect that you're talking. With these features combined, you can let your earbuds adapt to what you're up to instead of constantly fidgeting with controls. When you're not trying to drown out the outside world, Transparency mode works as well as ever for amplifying your surroundings and making it feel like you're not wearing earbuds at all. And thanks to the new extra-small ear tip option on this latest model, more people than ever can enjoy that tight seal you need for good noise cancellation. The AirPods Pro 2's great ANC make it easy to get lost in the buds' superb sound quality and spatial audio capabilities, the latter of which make some of my favorite albums sound extra-immersive; almost like I'm hearing them live. And then you have all of the usual Apple perks like effortless pairing to your iPhone, iPad and Mac and hands-free Siri controls. Heck, you can even use these buds to take a hearing test. If you live in the Apple world and want a good balance of great ANC and hassle-free compatibility with all your gadgets, it doesn't get better than the AirPods Pro 2. It certainly doesn't hurt that these premium buds are almost always on sale these days. It's kind of shocking that the EarFun Air Pro 4 cost as little as they do. The company behind many of our favorite budget earbuds have managed to deliver AirPods Pro-like performance and specs, but for a fraction of the price — all while offering a few neat perks you won't find on more expensive competitors. The Air Pro 4's noise cancellation is strikingly good for a pair of sub-$100 buds, consistently and significantly dampening everyday annoyances like loud appliances and chatty public spaces. In fact, our tester found EarFun's ANC superior to the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 and Google Pixel Buds Pro, both of which cost a whole lot more. Fortunately, ANC isn't the only area where the Air Pro 4 punch above their weight class. These buds are some of the best-sounding out there regardless of price, with our tester going as far to say that they sound even better than the AirPods Pro 2. It certainly helps that you can create your own sound profiles in the EarFun app for iOS and Android, as well as take advantage of high-resolution audio formats on compatible Android phones. Long battery life (7.5 hours with ANC on; 11 without) just sweetens the deal further. You do make a few sacrifices at this low price, namely finicky touch controls (a common problem with EarFun's buds) and subpar call quality. But if you want a reliable pair of ANC earbuds for roughly a fifth of what most premium competitors cost, the EarFun Air Pro 4 are the best of their kind. What if you need to drown out those extra-loud grunters at the gym? Meet the Beats Fit Pro. They're our favorite workout headphones and one of our picks for the best wireless earbuds overall, thanks in no small part to the reliable active noise cancellation that complements their exercise-friendly fit and robust feature set. The Fit Pro's active noise cancellation is on par with that of the original AirPods Pro, and was more than reliable for quieting loud subway cars and traffic-filled streets. Transparency mode was likewise reliable, which is something that's extra important for a pair of buds you might take out on a run. Sure, you might get more engrossing ANC from some other options on this list, but they don't come with the same unique fit that's tailor-made for athletes. Beats' earbuds sport a unique wing tip design, which forms a snug yet comfortable seal thanks to some added upper ear support. They've stayed securely fastened throughout years of heavy use, including no shortage of very sweaty basketball sessions. Gym-ready fit aside, the Beats Fit Pro are practically one-to-one with the AirPods Pro when it comes to sound quality and features while also sporting their own exclusive perks. They'll pair to your Apple gadgets as easily as AirPods do and have the same handy Siri controls, but also work great with Android via the Beats app. And unlike AirPods, the Fit Pro come in a ton of attractive color options, which is great for expressing yourself when you're out on the track or working on those gains. You'll also get a decent six hours of ANC battery life from these, which beats the AirPods Pro 2 by about an hour. The newer Powerbeats Pro 2 offer similarly great (if not slightly better) active noise cancellation, but I prefer the Fit Pro's less obtrusive design compared to the clip-on Powerbeats. The Fit Pro are also easy to score on sale nowadays, making their always-great value that much better. Performance Active noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation is always a major factor in our earbud ratings, and naturally, it held extra weight for this specific list. We evaluated each set of earbuds' ANC quality by simply using them out in the real world, taking note of how suppressive they were for noisy environments like subway cars, crowded streets and (when possible) flights. For a more objective side-by-side comparison, we also played airport sounds from a computer and took note of how well each pair of buds were able to silence the noise. Sound quality: Great ANC isn't very useful if it's highlighting bad sound, which is why overall audio quality played a major role in our evaluations. We took note of how well each pair held up with our usual playlists, making sure to get a healthy mix of rock, pop and hip-hop music in the mix. Bonus points for any earbuds that offer perks like spatial or high-resolution audio. Design Comfort and fit: You can't get quality noise cancellation without a nice snug fit, which is why comfort and snugness are a major factor in our evaluations. We note not only how comfortable and secure each pair of buds are out of the box, but also how many ear tip options are available for finding the right fit. Aesthetics: Your earbuds should look good. While style isn't everything, we generally favored options that we'd actually want to be seen in public wearing. Having multiple color options is always a nice bonus. Controls: We tested every available on-ear control for each pair, noting not only how well the controls work but also how many options there are for customizing what they do. Features and compatibility Companion app: Earbuds with a good companion app have a major advantage here, especially if you want to easily toggle and customize your ANC. We also tested each set of earbuds' special features to see how useful they are — and how they stack up to what competitors offer. Compatibility: Whenever possible, we paired each set of buds to both an iPhone and Android phone, noting how easy the process was on both platforms and if any features were missing on either of them. Think about how much ANC you need If you're reading this, you obviously want a pair of earbuds that can silence noise. But good ANC comes in many forms. If you want the most suppressive noise cancellation out there — not to mention the ability to finely adjust said noise cancellation — then go ahead and get the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. But if you're mainly going to use these at the gym, you might be willing to trade best-in-class ANC for still very good ANC and a more workout-friendly design. Think about where you'll be using your earbuds, and what kinds of noise you're looking to drown out. Sealed versus open Most noise-cancelling earbuds have soft silicone tips that form a tight seal in your ear, like the AirPods Pro. But what if you hate things that go deep in your ear? While you may have been out of luck in the past, newer options like Apple's AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and the Galaxy Buds 3 manage to deliver very serviceable ANC within a more breathable design that's akin to the old-school AirPods. Consider your budget Budget is always a factor when buying any pair of earbuds or headphones, and fortunately, you don't have to sacrifice ANC just because you're looking to spend less than $100. While cheap noise cancelling headphones used to be rare (or just not very good), models like our top pick in the EarFun Air Pro 4 offer some very reliable noise suppression for $50 to $60. That said, paying up generally gets you even better ANC, sound and build quality. Compatibility matters The best pair of earbuds is often the one that works the best with all of your gadgets, and that remains the case with ANC earbuds. Sure, the AirPods Pro will technically work with an Android phone (and let you switch sound modes via on-ear controls), but you'll be missing out on most of their key features. Certain buds from brands like Sony and EarFun support high-resolution codecs for even better audio, but you'll need a compatible Android phone for those. If you use a mix of Apple and Android devices, we find that Beats' headphones are the most platform-agnostic of the bunch. Sony WF-1000XM5 Sony's latest flagship headphones offer a plethora of premium features alongside up to 24 hours of battery life. Read our review The Sony WF-1000XM5 are our favorite overall true wireless earbuds, and are really dang good at noise cancellation. They beat Bose by a few hours on battery life and have slightly better sound quality, and while they're similarly expensive, they also go on sale often. You really can't go wrong with either pair of buds if you want something best-in-class, but in terms of sheer ANC quality and customization, the QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra manage to squeeze ahead. It doesn't hurt that we find Bose's Immersive Audio a little easier to use than Sony's 360 Reality Audio. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 The sequel to some of the most popular earbuds ever introduce a sleeker design and heart rate monitoring. Read our review A great alternative to our top workout pick, Beats' Powerbeats Pro 2 improve on the company's wildly popular clip-on earbuds with a slimmer design, better audio quality and, most notably, active noise cancellation. They even have the unique ability to monitor your heart rate, which is great for getting some extra workout insights without having to wear a fitness tracker. We wish the ANC was a little stronger and prefer the Beats Fit Pro's less obtrusive design, but these are still an excellent choice who want the added security afforded by their ear clip design. Apple AirPods 4 With Active Noise Cancellation The standard AirPods get active noise cancellation for the first time with this model, which also tout great sound quality and wireless charging. Read our review The ANC version of 2024's AirPods 4 offer shockingly good noise suppression for a pair of open-style earbuds that don't lodge deep into your ear like many of the other options on this list. In fact, they're not that far off from what you get from the AirPods Pro 2, and have a cheaper retail price to boot. We still prefer the AirPods Pro's overall fit and quality, but these are a very good alternative if you want something more breathable. Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II The second-generation QuietComfort Earbuds feature deeply adaptive and customizable ANC and three sets of swappable ear tips and stability bands for finding a good fit. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are only a year older than our top pick in the Ultra, and they're still a good buy if you want Bose quality on a tighter budget. Their excellent active noise cancellation is pretty much on par with what you get from the Ultra, complete with great sound quality, tons of features and dependable battery life. If you're an audio enthusiast that wants access to perks like 360-degree Immersive Audio and high-quality lossless support (not to mention a slightly nicer look), you may want to spring for the Ultra. For everyone else, the basic QC buds still hold up well today. Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro Samsung's latest premium earbuds take on a decidedly different design while offering customizable ANC and some exclusive perks for Galaxy phone owners. Read our review Samsung's latest flagship earbuds take an interesting new direction, ditching the smaller, more discreet designs of old in favor of something that just looks like AirPods. The Galaxy Buds 3 Pro offer dependable noise cancellation for Android users, though we didn't find its Adaptive mode (which is meant to adjust between ANC and ambient passthrough on the fly) to be very reliable. Samsung also deserves props for managing to squeeze some noise cancellation into the cheaper, open-style Galaxy Buds 3. However, the buds' unreliable controls, throwaway AI features and polarizing design mean that all but the most hardcore Samsung enthusiasts can look elsewhere. What is the difference between noise reduction and noise-canceling? What is the difference between noise reduction and noise-canceling? Earbuds with active noise cancellation use built-in microphones to actively counteract any ambient noise reaching your ears, whereas earbuds with basic noise reduction (sometimes known as passive noise cancellation) simply reduce outside noise due the physical seal they form in or around your ear. Why can I still hear things with noise cancellation on? Why can I still hear things with noise cancellation on? Even the best noise-canceling earbuds and headphones don't quite block 100% of the noise around you; there's only so much sound that your ANC earbuds can detect and and drown out. That said, there are a few things you can do to make sure you're getting the best noise suppression possible. For starters, you'll enjoy much better ANC if your earbuds are forming a tight, secure seal within your ears, so make sure to try out the different ear tip options that come with your buds in order to achieve that fit. Secondly, you'll want to check out your earbuds' settings via their respective companion app; Some of them (like Bose's) offer multiple levels of noise cancellation, while others (like Apple's) offer modes that switch between ANC and Transparency on the fly. If you're using an adaptive mode like that, you may not be getting the maximum noise cancellation that your earbuds can provide. Are noise-canceling earbuds as good as earplugs? Are noise-canceling earbuds as good as earplugs? Noise canceling earbuds and earplugs are two very different types of products. A good pair of ANC buds will generally block more noise than a set of earplugs, because they're using microphones to analyze and counteract the sound around you. Meanwhile, earplugs rely on the natural noise reduction that simply comes with having a snug piece of foam or silicone in your ear. Earplugs are also usually much cheaper. The downside to noise-canceling earbuds is that if they run out of battery, so does their active noise cancellation; earplugs are generally analog products that you can wear all day. In short, pick up noise-canceling earbuds if you want to listen to music while also drowning out noise. If you want to simply lower the volume a bit when you're at a live event or traveling, go with earplugs. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been covering reviewing headphones and earbuds for more than a decade, is rarely seen without something in or on his ears. Right now his desk is alone is littered with far more wireless earbuds than any one person should have.
Phone Arena
15-06-2025
- Phone Arena
Apple's noise-cancelling Beats Fit Pro are simply irresistible at this huge new discount
Are you having a hard time choosing the best wireless earbuds to pair with your iPhone or Android handset this summer? Amazon-owned Woot is here right now to make your decision... even more difficult in the best way possible. That's because the bargain-specialized e-tailer is selling the Beats Fit Pro at a simply unbeatable and irresistible price of $109.95 for a limited time. We're talking four days max at the time of this writing, and if you hurry, you can pick from three different colorways at the exact same monumental $90 discount from a regular price of $199.95. $90 off (45%) True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking, Apple H1 Chip, IPX4 Water Resistance, Secure-Fit Wingtips for All-Day Comfort and Stability, Up to 6 Hours of Listening Time, 24 Hours of Combined Battery Life, Android and iOS Support, Three Color Options, New, 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty Included Buy at Woot True Wireless Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency Mode, Adaptive EQ, Spatial Audio with Dynamic Head Tracking, Apple H1 Chip, IPX4 Water Resistance, Secure-Fit Wingtips for All-Day Comfort and Stability, Up to 6 Hours of Listening Time, 24 Hours of Combined Battery Life, Android and iOS Support, Two Color Options Buy at Amazon Perhaps not as flashy as the "Transparent" Studio Buds Plus and certainly not as sophisticated as the recently released Powerbeats Pro 2, these bad boys do still offer flawless all-day comfort and stability at the gym, in the classroom, or out in the park thanks to their flexible wingtips, as well as active noise cancellation and personalized spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. Compared to the hugely popular AirPods Pro 2, the slightly less successful Apple-made Beats Fit Pro provide native support for Android devices from any and all brands in addition to your new or old iPhone. Of course, some handy features, like Audio Sharing and Hey Siri, are only available in combination with another Apple product, but for the most part, you should be pretty content with the connectivity and sound performance even if you use the Fit Pro alongside a Samsung Galaxy or Motorola phone . The battery life is yet another key strength, at up to 7 hours of uninterrupted listening time and 30 hours with the bundled charging case factored in, and the IPX4 water resistance is not bad either, especially for 110 bucks. Keep in mind that your $109.95 will buy you a standard 1-year manufacturer warranty right now at Woot, so there's really no logical reason to turn down this amazing money-saving opportunity, especially with the best comparable first-party Amazon deal at the moment listing the Beats Fit Pro at $60 more after a humbler $30 discount from the aforementioned $199.95 regular price.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
My favorite Beats earbuds are $30 off for a limited time
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. SAVE $30: As of June 5, the Beats Fit Pro earbuds are on sale for $169.95 at Amazon. That's a 15% savings on the list price. Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $169.95 at Amazon $199.95 Save $30 Get Deal The Beats Fit Pro are back on sale at Amazon, so if you're looking for a quality pair of earbuds for a great price, look no further. As of June 5, you can save 15% on these earbuds, reduced to $169.95. This deal is specific to the volt yellow and coral pink colors. SEE ALSO: The Beats Pill speaker is currently at its lowest-ever price at Amazon As with any Beats product, these earbuds offer amazing sound quality. It's incredibly immersive, not to mention powerful, and some of the best I've experienced. The noise cancellation modes are stellar, with several options on how much you want to block out surrounding noises (full cancellation, transparency, etc). This is great for outdoor activities such as running when you want to hear your music but also stay aware of those around you. They also boast a seriously impressive battery life, with a single charge lasting days (often weeks). And for those who want to use these for sports, they're a great option. The silicon tip slides into your ear seamlessly, lodging in your ear and staying put for all types of activity at all intensities. I've tested these during many sports with varying degrees of intensity, and they always stay firmly in place. Grab these discounted earbuds from Amazon.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
My favorite Beats earbuds are at their lowest price in 2025
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. SAVE $31: As of May 14, Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $168.95 at Amazon. That's a 16% saving on the list price. Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $168.95 at Amazon $199.95 Save $31 Get Deal If you want a quality pair of earbuds for a great price, Beats is always a good choice. And the best of the bunch for me, the Beats Fit Pro, are on sale at Amazon for their lowest price this year. As of May 14, you can save 16% on these earbuds, reduced to $168.95. This deal is specific to just the stone purple. However, for just $1 extra, you have the option of black, white, and sage grey. SEE ALSO: The 9 best earbuds to buy in 2025 from Bose, Sony, and more With these earbuds, you'll get sound quality that is second to none. It's incredibly immersive, not to mention powerful, and some of the best I've experienced. The noise cancellation modes are stellar, with several options on how much you want to block out surrounding noises (full cancellation, transparency, etc). This is great for outdoor activities such as running when you want to hear your music but also stay aware of those around you. They also boast a seriously impressive battery life, with a single charge lasting days (often weeks). And for those who want to use these for sports, they're a great option. The silicon tip slides into your ear seamlessly, lodging in your ear and staying put for all types of activity at all intensities. I've tested these during many sports with varying degrees of intensity, and they always stay firmly in place. This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out. Roku Ultra 4K Ultimate Streaming Player (2024 Release) — $79.99 (List Price $99.99) Beats Pill Bluetooth Speaker — $99.95 (List Price $149.00) Roborock Qrevo Master Robot Vacuum and Mop — $799.98 (List Price $1599.99) Peloton Bike — $1,145.00 (List Price $1445.00) Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)
Phone Arena
15-05-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
At 41% off, the Beats Studio Buds+ offer premium sound at an unbeatable price
Gym rats may be rejoicing over Woot's generous deal on the workout-oriented Beats Fit Pro, but if you aren't into torturing yourself by going to the gym every single day and just want premium earbuds to chill with, the Beats Studio Buds+ are the way to go. The Amazon-owned retailer has a bonkers deal on these as well, slashing 41% off their transparent version. This lets you upgrade your listening experience for just $99.99—a whole $70 below their usual price of around $170. But act fast, because this limited-time offer could disappear before you know it, especially since it has been around for a few weeks now. $99 99 $169 95 $70 off (41%) Grab the Transparent Beats Studio Buds+ at 41% off at Woot! For just under $100, you're getting standout sound, reliable noise cancellation, and all-day battery life packed into a sleek design. At this price, they're a total steal—don't miss out! Buy at Woot $70 off (41%) Alternatively, you can score a pair of Beats Studio Buds+ on Amazon, where they are available at the same 41% discount. Buy at Amazon Beats is known for its signature bass-heavy sound, and the Studio Buds+ stay true to that reputation. With support for Dolby Atmos, they deliver clear highs, deep lows, and an immersive audio experience. They also feature ANC, which might not rival Sony or Bose's top-tier buds but still does a solid job of blocking out unwanted background is another strong suit. With an IPX4 rating, these buds can handle sweat and light splashes, making them a solid choice for workouts or outdoor adventures. Plus, they have impressive battery life, offering up to 9 hours of listening time per charge on their own. If you include the charging case, you're looking at a total of 36 hours before needing to plug them in again. That means you can listen all day without worrying about losing power. All in all, the Beats Studio Buds+ offer an incredible mix of high-quality sound, noise cancellation, and long-lasting battery life, all wrapped in a sleek design. And at their current price at Woot, they are a total steal. So don't wait—jump on this deal while it lasts!
